AP.jpgAP United States History Summer Reading Project


So, you’re taking AP United States History 2008-2009…


First off, welcome! The purpose of any AP class is to give you content at an accelerated or “college level” pace. Whether you are taking this course for “kicks” (Seniors) or for original credit (Juniors), this summer reading assignment will help you get introduced to the textbook, refresh what you already know about colonial times in American history, and provide a window into the level of work that will be involved next school year in the course. This is a REQUIRED assignment that will represent 50 points toward your grade for the first marking period in either Mrs. Ralph’s or Mr. Freccia’s classes.

Your assigned book for the Summer Reading Project is the textbook for the course, The American Pageant.Here is what you need to have done by the time school starts back up in the fall:

1. Read Chapter 1, take notes on what you read
2. Read Chapter 2, take notes on what you read
3. Read Chapter 3, take notes on what you read
4. Read Chapter 4, take notes on what you read
5. Read Chapter 5, take notes on what you read

You will be taking one quiz of 10 short answer questions for each chapter when we return from summer vacation. The reason why you are to take notes for each chapter is for two reasons:

1. You will be allowed to use your notes on the quizzes (better the notes, the better the grade
2. It provides an easier summation when reviewing at the end of the school year (beats re-reading the chapter in April 2009)

The notes can be in any format you choose – bulleted, listed, divided, outline, shorthand, etc. – but you should roughly have one page of handwritten notes for every for every five pages from the textbook. That means a 30-page chapter should have about 6 handwritten pages (or 3 pages front and back). This of course varies depending on the size of your handwriting.

Your notes will be turned in as well to prevent against cheating – so don’t think the Internet will save the day (we know the sites, we know what to look for). If you cut corners now, it will hurt your ability to do well on the actual exam and ruin your shot for college credit.

If you have any questions over the summer regarding this assignment, please contact Mr. Freccia (frecciab@christina.k12.de.us) or Mrs. Ralph (ralphc@christina.k12.de.us) for clarification.

P.S. – If you drop the course over the summer, please return to textbook to E105 when school starts so that you don’t get charged with an unmet.